Caen set early pace as El Khoumisti hits hat-trick on Ligue 3 opening night | OneFootball

Ligue 3 returned on Friday night, Caen taking top spot after a 4-0 home win over Valenciennes, powered by Fahd El Khoumisti’s hat-trick.

According to L'Équipe, the new Football Video Support, a coach’s challenge, made an immediate impact. It was used inside five minutes at Aubagne v Thionville, triggering Bilal Tefni’s red card, and featured again in Bastia v Le Puy-en-Velay and Caen v Valenciennes.

El Khoumisti, formerly of Orléans and Concarneau, marked his Caen debut in style. He now tops the all-time Ligue 3 scoring charts with 88, moving past Kévin Lefaix on 87.

Bourg-en-Bresse edged Villefranche in a stoppage-time epic. Tom Gomes struck on 31 minutes and Mounir El Hajjami made it 2-0 on 62, before Dembo Gassama pulled one back on 72. Mathieu Cachbach levelled from the spot on 90+6, then Ikauar Mendes won it with a penalty on 90+9 for 3-2.

Bastia’s return to the third tier began with a home defeat by Le Puy-en-Velay. Moussa Faty opened the scoring on 45+1 and Marvin Emmanuel sealed it on 90+6 for 2-0. Relegated last season, the Corsicans had been tipped to challenge for an immediate return.

Elsewhere, Fleury drew 0-0 with Amiens, as did Rouen with Cannes. La Roche-sur-Yon beat Versailles 3-2, Paris 13 Atletico edged QRM 1-0, Thionville won 3-0 at Aubagne, and Orléans prevailed 2-0 at Concarneau.

Source: L'Équipe

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